Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Uncovering the Truth

Lin Nannan was stunned. "How could you have never written a reflection essay? With your personality, there's no way you always followed the rules quietly!"

Lu Hang said smugly, "I never followed blindly, but I ranked at the top in every subject. Unless it was a major offense, most teachers looked the other way. So no, I've never written one."

"I don't care—you're writing it now!" With no other recourse, Lin Nannan dumped the task on Lu Hang.

Instead of complying, Lu Hang pulled her into writing it together. The couple played mind games with each other, each trying to force the other to write, turning the house into a battlefield.

The commotion momentarily distracted Lin Nannan from her fertility struggles.

Just as the Lu family relaxed, the villagers shattered her fragile peace.

Her mood darkened again.

Unable to vent on the Lu family or risk confronting Yin Xu, she took her anger out on the Lin family instead.

Old Mrs. Lin's arrest sent shockwaves through the village. Since military personnel had carried out the detention, rumors swirled that Lu Hang was exacting revenge for Lin Nannan.

But these speculations were soon disproven.

Initially, Old Mrs. Lin resisted interrogation. But when operatives from the capital—who had targeted Lin Nannan—were captured and confessed, the truth became unavoidable.

As investigators pieced together the capital connection, Old Mrs. Lin broke down and revealed everything.

Her niece had coincidentally studied in Beijing, where she met a wealthy, politically unscathed family. Blinded by jealousy, she befriended them, hoping to leverage the connection for marriage. But when the family's daughter married well—to her childhood sweetheart, no less—the niece snapped. In a fit of spite, she switched their babies.

"Switched the babies?" Lin Nannan blurted out, turning to Lu Hang. "So they never knew their child was swapped?"

"Exactly," Lu Hang confirmed, seeing her shock. "Zhang Ling managed to get her hands on an unrelated baby and substituted you. She meant to kill you, but changed her mind—probably deciding it was crueler to let you live under Old Mrs. Lin's 'care.'"

His assessment hit the mark.

The original Lin Nannan suffered through a wretched childhood before losing her wits, which only made Zhang Ling more complacent—certain her victim would never recover.

But when Lin Nannan started defying expectations, Zhang Ling panicked, triggering subsequent events.

"Old Mrs. Lin claims Zhang Ling's life turned sour after the swap," Lu Hang cut straight to the point. "But that's likely a lie to deter the Lin family from hounding her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had the means to send agents after you."

Lin Nannan nodded. "Possibly. Still, we've got a trail to follow now. We need to see this through—uncover everything."

"Agreed. Who knows what Zhang Ling might try next," Lu Hang said grimly.

"What happens to Old Mrs. Lin now?"

"She confessed. Prison's inevitable."

Lin Nannan's lips thinned. "She wasn't alone. Lin Donglai knew—participated even."

"Old Mrs. Lin favors Lin Donglai above all. She'd never implicate him, so we can't touch him yet."

"But we will," Lin Nannan said, her hands balling into fists at memories of Lin Donglai's abuses. "Once we catch Zhang Ling, we'll identify her local contact."

"Right. The village chief confirmed Lin Donglai made the call. But without proof linking him to the capital operatives, we can't move against him."

Dreading the fallout, Lin Nannan frowned. "Can we arrest Zhang Ling without tipping off the others?"

Here's the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Lu Hang knew exactly who she meant and shook his head. "This is too big to cover up!"

Given Lin Nannan's unique status, Zhang Ling's actions would lead to harsher penalties. Once caught—especially with her connections to Zhang Ling—you can imagine how that would turn out.

"Annoying!" Lin Nannan grumbled, dropping the subject.

Lu Hang never imagined things would get so complicated.

Just one person's jealousy destroyed two lives. Who knows what she was thinking.

...

Even after contacting people in the capital, they'd still need to send someone.

The obvious choice was Lin Nannan.

Only she could confront Zhang Ling and get to the bottom of her real background.

Lin Nannan resisted, but after the Lu family's relentless persuasion—hammering home the need to bring the criminals to justice—she finally gave in.

They had to get everything ready for her trip. Taking the train wasn't an option, so they'd drive...

Getting cars wasn't the problem—Lin Nannan's safety came first. Yin Xu arranged multiple vehicles coming and going constantly, creating the illusion of important deliveries. To outsiders, it just looked like busywork, raising no suspicion.

This way, Lin Nannan managed to slip out undetected.

Lu Hang accompanied her while Yin Xu provided security. With everything arranged in the capital for their arrival, Lin Nannan's initial resistance gave way—she just went along with it now.

At this point, it was either this or nothing.

"If they give you any trouble, you don't have to acknowledge them—but don't let them get to you, okay?" Lu Hang said, seeing her gloom.

"They already have a daughter," Lin Nannan muttered. "They don't need me."

She wasn't even the real Lin Nannan, yet this situation pained her. How much worse for the original soul?

How would the real Lin Nannan have reacted? Her whole life stolen, returning to strangers who'd given their love to the thief—how could she handle that?

Besides, raising someone counts just as much as blood ties. They wouldn't stop loving their raised daughter, meaning the real Lin Nannan would only suffer more upon returning.

This wasn't a reunion Lin Nannan could accept.